Many happy returns Irving Nattrass 71 today

[erimus74]

Happy birthday to a one time Boro record signing Irving Nattrass

Irving, born in Fishburn 1952, signed for the mighty Boro from Newcastle United July 1979

Newcastle were relegated from the top flight in 1979 & as Nattrass wanted to stay in the top flight so when the Boro showed interest he was not only staying in the top flight & with a good team, but staying close to his family home, he happily agreed to sign for us but with both clubs unable to come to a figure it went to an independent tribunal who fixed the transfer fee at £475k, a club record transfer at the time

I was buzzing with his signing, an elegant CB who should improve our defence, though looking back were Newcastle aware of just how bad his injuries were, he just seemed to be forever in the treatment room
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 His debut, away at Arsenal on the 15th September wearing the No10 shirt, was a good while after signing due to an achilles tendon injury, unfortunately, his time at the Boro was stop & start, though season 83-84 the only time in his time at the Boro, probably his career, he played every single minute, of every game league, league Cup & FAC Cup games, in total 47 games in one season

Registered No527 in 6 seasons he clocked up 220 games, scoring 2 goals & played in 9 different positions

I liked Nattrass, I thought he was a classy CB, nowhere near as good as the late, great Willie Maddren, not in the same league, but I thought what a cracking signing John Neal had made, in a good, exciting team who scored goals, were a match for anyone at home, our achilles heel was on our travels & now sorting out the defence, which will be a major step forward, but it wasn't to be, as mentioned, his career was stop start who played all over, he wasnt given a specific role at the club, plus, sadly, it was the beginning of the end for one of Charltons Champions legends, my favourite Boro captain & CB, Stuey Boam when Nattrass arrived

In his 1st season 79-80 he wore shirt No's 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10 & 12 & TBH that's how it continued in his time at the Boro

His 2 goals were in a 3-0 home win over Leeds, our 1st home game of the season & in 1982-83 a penalty at home to QPR in a 2-1, big Mal's 1st game as manager

In fact, throughout his time at the Boro he also wore No's 2, 5, 7, meaning the only shirt No's he didn't wear were No's 1 & 11

His final Boro game, wearing the No3 shirt, was a 3-1 home defeat to Carlisle on the 31st March 1986 he retired at the end of the season

Him & Bryan Orrit must have worn the most numbered shirts in their time in our history

Happy Birthday Irving

[TerryCochranesSocks]

I seem to remember him playing more as a fullback for us, with an occasional stint as a defensive midfielder.
Decent player.